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The Outer Rim Chronicles #1
Tangent
Three billion miles from home, Commander Xianx Paul helms an antiquated space station orbiting Tangent, a lonely planet at the edge of the solar system. Tangent is a fabled El Dorado, its wealth taking the form of artifacts left behind by its long-lost civilization—powerful relics that have attracted some of the system’s most dangerous criminals. Understaffed and under-equipped, Paul’s crew struggles to maintain order with nothing but the distant threat of military retaliation to back them up. But when an admiral arrives from Central Command intent on advancing her own career, she dismisses Paul’s warnings, accuses him of inaction, and wages a reckless war against a savage gang of smugglers. But there are more eyes on Tangent than anyone realizes. As other forces rush in to take advantage of the turmoil, Paul and his crew are trapped in a desperate, three way battle for their very lives.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
206 pages, Paperback
First published January 9, 2016
26 people are currently reading
556 people want to read
About the author
Brett James
17 books63 followersBrett James makes irrationally large art installations that he has installed in New York, San Francisco, Amsterdam, England, and Croatia. He has written and directed six films and been honored at a dozen festivals. He was raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
James hand-makes (most of) the paperback versions of his own books.
James hand-makes (most of) the paperback versions of his own books.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
xx-dnf-skim-reference
October 30, 2017Sorry. I tried, got 1/2way, and skimmed the last several pages, but it just didn't work for me. Not what I thought I was getting. Too much bad language & vulgar behavior, shallow characters, and then to learn that it's first in a series, well, no. I think the author has potential, but he really needs to find an editor or beta reader who is not afraid to hurt his feelings... what, for example, is meant by a shirt that is "loosely buttoned?"
February 17, 2016
Tired of Firefly reruns and looking for a new science fiction series to follow? Tangent has exactly what you're looking for - a ragtag bunch of misfit not quite heroes living and working in a crumbling long past obsolete space station on the edge of the universe. What they are missing in tech and backup, they make up for with moxy and creativity. They are led by Commander Xianx Paul, an almost forgotten hero of the last war. Tangent is not the easiest posting. By law noone is allowed on the planet. In reality several million people live amongst the ruins of a long absent civilization. Smuggling scavenged tech is how the people of Tangent survive, and Paul is used to being pragmatic rather than following the letter of the law, particularly since the smugglers have more firepower.
When a Vice Admiral arrives from Central Command to take over the station, it's only a matter of time before her hard enforcement of the rules brings trouble. Something big has been found on Tangent and more than one party is interested in getting their hands on the item.
One character neglected in the description plays what I feel is the most important role. Tanyat "Red" is the government's political liaison. She is clever, a talented pilot, quick on the draw, and not afraid of her own sexuality. Without her, the rest of the crew would be up the proverbial creek without a paddle. In this, what is clearly the first of a series of books, her character has a more central role than Paul.
This is a stand-alone novel, but Tangent is clearly the first in a series. I look forward to see what Brett James has up his sleeve for the next installment.
4/5
I received a copy of Tangent from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
March 16, 2016
I received a free copy of this novel in an exquisite paperback edition from the author for the purposes of a review.
I loved this book. Tangent is a short novel that introduces the reader to a new SF series by Brett James that is inspired by a film, Cold War, that James made 20 years. I've never seen the film but it's certainly started something special here. By the end of the novel I was so interested in the characters that I gnashed my teeth in frustration that I'd have to wait for the next installment.
While it's tempting to label this as Space Opera due to the typical SF backdrop of spaceships and fallen civilizations, it's really more a cold war style book with action and intrigue that just happens to occur at the outskirts of a distant solar system. I suspect future installments will explore the political ramifications of the action that occurs in Tangent as well as develop the very interesting backstory of the lead character, Xianx Paul, a heroic survivor of an earlier war who's been sent to the remote posting of Tangent to keep him away from an Admiral's daughter.
It's really quite remarkable how many interesting story elements James juggles in this short book. The remnants of an ancient civilization, presumably created by the ancestors of the characters in the book, hints of aliens, intrigue betwixt government, the military and the intelligence service and of course a crew of very interesting individuals. It's going to be a lot of fun.
I loved this book. Tangent is a short novel that introduces the reader to a new SF series by Brett James that is inspired by a film, Cold War, that James made 20 years. I've never seen the film but it's certainly started something special here. By the end of the novel I was so interested in the characters that I gnashed my teeth in frustration that I'd have to wait for the next installment.
While it's tempting to label this as Space Opera due to the typical SF backdrop of spaceships and fallen civilizations, it's really more a cold war style book with action and intrigue that just happens to occur at the outskirts of a distant solar system. I suspect future installments will explore the political ramifications of the action that occurs in Tangent as well as develop the very interesting backstory of the lead character, Xianx Paul, a heroic survivor of an earlier war who's been sent to the remote posting of Tangent to keep him away from an Admiral's daughter.
It's really quite remarkable how many interesting story elements James juggles in this short book. The remnants of an ancient civilization, presumably created by the ancestors of the characters in the book, hints of aliens, intrigue betwixt government, the military and the intelligence service and of course a crew of very interesting individuals. It's going to be a lot of fun.
February 20, 2019
Basically, An Important and Dangerous Thing has been found on an outlier planet, and a smuggler may or may not have taken it from the planet. Meanwhile, on an orbital spaceship that's lightly staffed above the world is the center of a confluence of events: A new officious leader, who pushes aside the previous commander without trying to understand how the ship works; the suspicious smuggler, who must be brought to heel; and an incoming ship packed with very sketchy intelligence operatives. Everybody wants The Important Thing. A clash is at hand.
One heads up: It really does feel like an extended prologue to the longer series than a full book in and of itself; though as a teaser it does work. I am not generally a hard SF reader, but this one kept me engaged and eager to see what comes next. Recommended.
One heads up: It really does feel like an extended prologue to the longer series than a full book in and of itself; though as a teaser it does work. I am not generally a hard SF reader, but this one kept me engaged and eager to see what comes next. Recommended.
April 13, 2016
(I received a promotional copy of Tangent from the author, and am not being paid for this review.)
Okay, this one took me a little longer than I expected, even though it is a fairly short volume.
Tangent, on one side, is exactly what you expect: a short sci-fi adventure, full of space marines, action, innuendos and jokes, and a few cheeky bad asses you'll fall in love with.
However, the core of the story is not exactly what one would expect from such a simple premise.
Usually with a short story, there is a good guy, a bad guy, a triumph or failure, and a moral message. James' novel defies being typecast in that same "short sci-fi story" category. As I got through the book, it slowly became clear that his book read more like a long, beautifully descriptive stage-play than a standard sci-fi short. However, this type of simplistic writing only served to enhance the story, moving the plot and dialogue along, while still giving enough background information to call it a novel. Tangent is atypical as a sci-fi short in that it has no clear message or political voice. Also, some characters are hardly elaborated on, and the reader is given more of a "feel" for them through their sparse words and actions than any historical information about them. James allows his readers to imagine the intimidation one would feel near some characters, and condescension near others; for this novel, he has used one of my favorite book rules of "show, don't tell."
It is honestly such a short volume that I would recommend that if you're interested in sci-fi, adventure, and short stories, you just go and buy it. I would not want to ruin the story with any spoilers! All of his works are pretty well-priced online.
The villains are nasty, the plot's turns are unexpected, the heroes are gritty and real, and it really is just a very different experience from anything else you'll ever read. The ending did not satisfy me for the sole fact that I wanted to read so much MORE of the story! However, it did feel right, like the ending of a film or play; the story was just a short glimpse into another reality, which cannot be told in full without going to the start and end of the universe itself.
(Reading the very last pages, it is evident that Brett James had worked on some sci-fi film project, and he kindly recalls the names of those involved, who I assume helped him eventually bring this story to full fruition.)
All in all, 5 stars! Great read :)
Thank you Brett James!
(Also a last quick note, if you love sci-fi, you need to read The Drift Wars by James. One of my favorite books now, and very different from Tangent.)
Cheers! :)
Okay, this one took me a little longer than I expected, even though it is a fairly short volume.
Tangent, on one side, is exactly what you expect: a short sci-fi adventure, full of space marines, action, innuendos and jokes, and a few cheeky bad asses you'll fall in love with.
However, the core of the story is not exactly what one would expect from such a simple premise.
Usually with a short story, there is a good guy, a bad guy, a triumph or failure, and a moral message. James' novel defies being typecast in that same "short sci-fi story" category. As I got through the book, it slowly became clear that his book read more like a long, beautifully descriptive stage-play than a standard sci-fi short. However, this type of simplistic writing only served to enhance the story, moving the plot and dialogue along, while still giving enough background information to call it a novel. Tangent is atypical as a sci-fi short in that it has no clear message or political voice. Also, some characters are hardly elaborated on, and the reader is given more of a "feel" for them through their sparse words and actions than any historical information about them. James allows his readers to imagine the intimidation one would feel near some characters, and condescension near others; for this novel, he has used one of my favorite book rules of "show, don't tell."
It is honestly such a short volume that I would recommend that if you're interested in sci-fi, adventure, and short stories, you just go and buy it. I would not want to ruin the story with any spoilers! All of his works are pretty well-priced online.
The villains are nasty, the plot's turns are unexpected, the heroes are gritty and real, and it really is just a very different experience from anything else you'll ever read. The ending did not satisfy me for the sole fact that I wanted to read so much MORE of the story! However, it did feel right, like the ending of a film or play; the story was just a short glimpse into another reality, which cannot be told in full without going to the start and end of the universe itself.
(Reading the very last pages, it is evident that Brett James had worked on some sci-fi film project, and he kindly recalls the names of those involved, who I assume helped him eventually bring this story to full fruition.)
All in all, 5 stars! Great read :)
Thank you Brett James!
(Also a last quick note, if you love sci-fi, you need to read The Drift Wars by James. One of my favorite books now, and very different from Tangent.)
Cheers! :)
April 20, 2016
A misfit crew of outcasts and exiles manning an aging space station isn't an unheard-of core premise in science fiction, so I was interested to see how Tangent would be different from all the other sci-fi books out there. Beyond that general outline, though, the story shines through with its strong characters, consistent pacing, and plenty of humor mixed in with the action.
Basically, a far-flung orbital outpost above the planet of Tangent is falling into disrepair, and its crew knows that their positions here are basically dead-ends in their careers. Good boys and girls don't get sent to Tangent. Here, they are destined to watch over petty criminals smuggling almost worthless goods between the planet's surface and buyers in the outer rim. Everything changes, though, when a high-ranking military officer arrives to take command of the station, turning the crew's routine on its head and causing questions to be raised about why, exactly, a gorgeous vice admiral is being brought out to oversee a frontier outpost long since written off as worthless.
If you've seen the TV series 'Firefly' or its spiritual predecessor, 'Farscape', a lot of the characters will feel familiar to you. A bumbling, but fair and well-meaning captain; a seductress who also knows her way around a weapon; a lighthearted pilot who's way too qualified for his posting, and so on. But the story doesn't rest on the laurels of these tropes; instead, the author brings all the characters together in commiseration or conflict over their new situation, forcing the crew of the Tangent station to prove themselves in unlikely ways for some, and in disturbing ways for others.
There are hints at larger worldbuilding hiding throughout the story, and the beginning and end of the book definitely point toward a larger arc that isn't visible within the pages of Tangent. Brett James doesn't leave you dangling on a cliffhanger, but it's also clear that there are much bigger things in store for the series, and the ideas presented in Tangent just make me excited to see what's yet to come.
If you appreciate motley crews, smarmy smugglers, and shadowy government figures, all orbiting a planet supposedly covered in technologically advanced artifacts from a civilization long gone, then Tangent is worth sinking an afternoon or weekend into reading.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Basically, a far-flung orbital outpost above the planet of Tangent is falling into disrepair, and its crew knows that their positions here are basically dead-ends in their careers. Good boys and girls don't get sent to Tangent. Here, they are destined to watch over petty criminals smuggling almost worthless goods between the planet's surface and buyers in the outer rim. Everything changes, though, when a high-ranking military officer arrives to take command of the station, turning the crew's routine on its head and causing questions to be raised about why, exactly, a gorgeous vice admiral is being brought out to oversee a frontier outpost long since written off as worthless.
If you've seen the TV series 'Firefly' or its spiritual predecessor, 'Farscape', a lot of the characters will feel familiar to you. A bumbling, but fair and well-meaning captain; a seductress who also knows her way around a weapon; a lighthearted pilot who's way too qualified for his posting, and so on. But the story doesn't rest on the laurels of these tropes; instead, the author brings all the characters together in commiseration or conflict over their new situation, forcing the crew of the Tangent station to prove themselves in unlikely ways for some, and in disturbing ways for others.
There are hints at larger worldbuilding hiding throughout the story, and the beginning and end of the book definitely point toward a larger arc that isn't visible within the pages of Tangent. Brett James doesn't leave you dangling on a cliffhanger, but it's also clear that there are much bigger things in store for the series, and the ideas presented in Tangent just make me excited to see what's yet to come.
If you appreciate motley crews, smarmy smugglers, and shadowy government figures, all orbiting a planet supposedly covered in technologically advanced artifacts from a civilization long gone, then Tangent is worth sinking an afternoon or weekend into reading.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2018
A Thriller in Space!
I loved nearly everything about Tangent. I searched for criticism, but couldn’t find it. The characters are fun and exciting, especially Red. I read the whole book through in one reading. It only took me 2.5 hours and my only real complaint is that the novella should have been a novel. I want more. I will definitely pick up the sequel and any other books in the Tangent universe.
Here is a list of the many aspects that I especially loved (some minor spoilers):
I immediately related with Paul’s situation when an obnoxious boss takes over his command. The admiral was a pain in every sense of the word, but she was never to the level of being a caricature. The author knows how to write characters.
The ancient ring was a nice touch, and it gave me a nostalgic vibe of Star Wars.
The superstar of the book, Paul, turns out not to be the guns blazing hero you may expect. Without Red, his whole team would be pretty useless. Her stance as an outsider makes the dialogue pop even more.
Despite being such a quick wit, Red isn’t perfect. Many authors would have her take a gun out of a soldier’s hands and mow down the enemy. Red’s reaction to death is far more suitable to her character.
Although it’s clear there is more to the story, the book can stand as an individual adventure. There are hints to the future, but they can be ignored and you still have a fun tale.
The downside:
I really can’t think of anything legitimate. The book is too short, but I expect 500 pages would have left me wanting more. There were a few typos, but they hardly justify a lost star because they were so few and far between. Normally I would complain about the limited action, but the book was so suspenseful that I didn’t mind the missing violence. The book is good. I can’t say it any other way.
I loved nearly everything about Tangent. I searched for criticism, but couldn’t find it. The characters are fun and exciting, especially Red. I read the whole book through in one reading. It only took me 2.5 hours and my only real complaint is that the novella should have been a novel. I want more. I will definitely pick up the sequel and any other books in the Tangent universe.
Here is a list of the many aspects that I especially loved (some minor spoilers):
I immediately related with Paul’s situation when an obnoxious boss takes over his command. The admiral was a pain in every sense of the word, but she was never to the level of being a caricature. The author knows how to write characters.
The ancient ring was a nice touch, and it gave me a nostalgic vibe of Star Wars.
The superstar of the book, Paul, turns out not to be the guns blazing hero you may expect. Without Red, his whole team would be pretty useless. Her stance as an outsider makes the dialogue pop even more.
Despite being such a quick wit, Red isn’t perfect. Many authors would have her take a gun out of a soldier’s hands and mow down the enemy. Red’s reaction to death is far more suitable to her character.
Although it’s clear there is more to the story, the book can stand as an individual adventure. There are hints to the future, but they can be ignored and you still have a fun tale.
The downside:
I really can’t think of anything legitimate. The book is too short, but I expect 500 pages would have left me wanting more. There were a few typos, but they hardly justify a lost star because they were so few and far between. Normally I would complain about the limited action, but the book was so suspenseful that I didn’t mind the missing violence. The book is good. I can’t say it any other way.
October 27, 2016
Su una fatiscente stazione spaziale che sorveglia un pianeta quasi dimenticato arriva una nuova comandante, quasi troppo bella e aristocratica per essere vera, e comincia a pretendere che tutto sia fatto a modo suo, alterando gli equilibri creatisi in anni di convivenza. Subito dopo però cominceranno a succedere cose strane, che solo il ristabilirsi di questi equilibri potrà contrastare.
Simpatico libro per adolescenti che ha il difetto di essere un po' troppo semplicistico e, facendo parte di una serie, di richiedere la lettura dei volumi precedenti per capire una parte dei caratteri e delle situazioni.
Ringrazio Fallacy Publications e Netgalley per avermi fornito una copia gratuita in cambio di una recensione onesta.
On a dilapidated space station that monitors an almost forgotten planet comes a new commander, almost too beautiful and aristocratic to be true, and begins to pretend that everything is done in her own way, altering the equilibria created through years of living together. Soon after, however, strange things begin to happen, that only the re-establishment of these equilibria can oppose.
Cute book for teens that has the disadvantage of being a bit too simplistic and, being part of a series, to require the reading of the previous volumes in order to understand some of the characters and situations.
Thank Fallacy Publications and Netgalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Simpatico libro per adolescenti che ha il difetto di essere un po' troppo semplicistico e, facendo parte di una serie, di richiedere la lettura dei volumi precedenti per capire una parte dei caratteri e delle situazioni.
Ringrazio Fallacy Publications e Netgalley per avermi fornito una copia gratuita in cambio di una recensione onesta.
On a dilapidated space station that monitors an almost forgotten planet comes a new commander, almost too beautiful and aristocratic to be true, and begins to pretend that everything is done in her own way, altering the equilibria created through years of living together. Soon after, however, strange things begin to happen, that only the re-establishment of these equilibria can oppose.
Cute book for teens that has the disadvantage of being a bit too simplistic and, being part of a series, to require the reading of the previous volumes in order to understand some of the characters and situations.
Thank Fallacy Publications and Netgalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2016
Up front: Brett James sent me a copy of this book. I am happy to post a candid review, because I quite enjoyed the read.
James has stepped into different genres in his last few books, and his latest book is a confident stride into space opera. I liked the characters and I dug the way that James combines space travel with broken down machinery that requires some elbow grease to keep working. The immediate plot in this book is exciting and largely resolved by the finale, while James sprinkles some promising elements that will surely appear in future installments. I will definitely seek out the latter as they appear.
Watch for a great reference to Banks and his lovely and oh-so-lovable Culture books. If you're going to give a shout-out to a space opera series, you can't do much better than the Culture!
James has stepped into different genres in his last few books, and his latest book is a confident stride into space opera. I liked the characters and I dug the way that James combines space travel with broken down machinery that requires some elbow grease to keep working. The immediate plot in this book is exciting and largely resolved by the finale, while James sprinkles some promising elements that will surely appear in future installments. I will definitely seek out the latter as they appear.
Watch for a great reference to Banks and his lovely and oh-so-lovable Culture books. If you're going to give a shout-out to a space opera series, you can't do much better than the Culture!
March 4, 2016
When the Author asked me if I was interested in reading his latest book in exchange for a review, I was immediately on board. Despite the fact that I am not usually a huge SF fan, I always make an exception for Brett James, because I know I will be in for a wild ride. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It held my attention from page one, making me read way passed my bedtime as usual, filled with interesting and colorful characters, that I want to know more about, plenty of action and suspense and a good plot line. I can't wait to find out what will happen next, and I hope I won't have to wait to long for the next installment.
March 29, 2016
This is a short book, a quick read. I really enjoyed this book and fell in love with the characters. They are so interesting and likeable, I can't wait to read the books in this upcoming series. If the rest of the series is as compelling as this book, this is going to be a great series. I loved this story, It has a little bit of everything, action, adventure, sex and politics. I was hooked at the beginning and read the story quite quickly. Loved it!
March 16, 2016
I really liked this book. I believe that it is the best book I have read by Brett James. The book is a quick read, and I would love to see it as a series. It has a great foundation with well thought out characters and situations, and then throw in the mysteries that were introduced I am very intrigued. Great job Brett!
April 28, 2016
This is more a novella length story, but Brett James is a solid practitioner of quality over quantity. The story is quick-paced and intriguing. The characters are colorful, odd and fascinating. Every book I pick up from Brett James gets better that the one before. This book had a completeness to its story, but there is plenty of room for a series (one can only hope!)
March 17, 2016
This was a fun Science Fiction story with great characters. I look forward to more in this series.
5 stars!
5 stars!
March 14, 2016
A real good read. James has a very descriptive writing style that sweeps you away into his story.
March 19, 2016
It's an exciting read, with explosive action sequences, including one of the best fights I've read recently. Brett James's stories just keep getting better and better!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews